57-year-old Wairarapa record smashed

Gavin McLachlan, left, and Mikael Starzynski with a copy of the 1959 Wairarapa College magazine which detailed McLachlan's record-breaking feats. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

BREAKING a record which stood for 57 years was a highlight of the 2016 Wairarapa College track and field championships.

Year 11 student Mikael Starzynski, 14, won the under-15 boys long jump title with a leap of 5.83m to better the previous best distance of 5.61m set by Gavin McLachlan in 1959.

Alesana Malatai (left), broke the shot put record. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

McLachlan still lives in Wairarapa and remembers the day when as a 14-year-old fourth former he not only established his long jump record but also broke records in the 100 yards and 220 yards. Remarkably the long jump record he had set for the under-14 age group the previous year still stands.

"I am so glad Mikael did it, records are there to be aimed for," McLachlan said.

Visiting Wairarapa College to meet Starzynski brought back a lot of memories for McLachlan who was at the school from 1957 to 1960. The last time he was there he was a school leaver and was farewelling then-principal Tom Holmes.

"I really enjoyed my days at the college," he said. "I took part in everything, was a member of the first XV when I was 14, became a prefect and had a lead role in the production of Pirates of Penzance."

Starzynski has already performed in two major school productions. He is often seen singing and playing the guitar at school assemblies as well. He is also a member of the football first XI.

The long jump was not the only event in which Starzynski excelled at the championships. He also broke the under-15 400m record set by T Purvis in 1984 by two seconds with a time of 54s and equalled the 200m record of 23.8s set by W Simpson in 2007. His efforts saw him awarded the Helen Russell Cup for "special quality performance".

Also in record-breaking form was year 10 student Alesana Malatai, 14, who bettered A Faifeta's 2008 mark of 11.30m for the under-14 boys shot put with a put of 11.49m.

Overall championship winners were:

Girls: Under-14 (Saunders Cup) Destiny Mila; runner-up (Conners Cup) Reese Robertson. Junior (Nichol Cup) Teagan Andrews-Paul; runner-up (Crozier Cup) Lizzie Bysouth. Intermediate (Intermediate Cup) Stephanie Andrews-Paul; runner-up (Erica Cup) Caitlin Pepperell. Senior (Parents Cup) Bailey McNair-Williams; runner-up (Lyttle Bowl) Toni Cottle. Senior field events (Playle Cup) Kelsey Anstis.

Boys: Under-14 (Blunt Cup) Tama Bartlett; runners-up (Beale Cup) Zac Vainu and Tai Gemmell. Junior (Hawkesworth Cup) Mikael Starzynski; runner-up (Bunny Cup) Ethan Butcher. Intermediate (Jordan Cup) Flynn Everingham; runner-up (Booth Cup) Jethro Thorenaar. Senior (McDonald Cup) James Robertson and Josh Fulton; runner-up (Wadham Cup) Adam Moloney. Senior field events (Patrick Cup) Flynn Ellmers.

Interhouse: Boys (Percy Shield) Aorangi. Girls (Fellingham Shield) Maungarake. Combined (Purnell Vase) Maungarake.